Archive for day: Thursday, January 21st, 2016

Few people find networking to be an easy task. Our professional networks commonly consist of people we meet in many different ways—whether through a colleague, a career fair, mutual connections on LinkedIn, or a previous employment opportunity—and as a result, it can be hard knowing how to communicate with each of them. Thankfully, there’s one thing all of your contacts will appreciate and respond positively to: being considerate.
Since one of the trickiest parts of networking is knowing how to ask for help when we need it, it’s important to know how to approach this process with tact. After all, you’re asking another professional to take time out of their likely busy schedule to assist you with something. Even though the whole point of networking is to create mutually beneficial relationships and help each other out in our careers, this can still be daunting; what if that other person is too busy? Will they be annoyed by your request for help? Thankfully, following these tips to considerate networking can help you rest easy and know that you did your best:
Keep correspondence polite, short and to the point. Just about everyone is busy these days, so taking up your contact’s time with a lengthy phone call or a long email is ill advised. You can briefly and politely address the following few things in just a couple of sentences, which many professionals will appreciate:
The reason for your call/email
Why you trust that person’s expertise
An offer to meet whenever is convenient for that person.
The last point is crucial; since the person you’re contacting will be helping you with your career, do your best to accommodate whatever time works best for them.
Do not follow up multiple times. If a week or so has gone by without response, feel free to shoot that person an email or leave a voicemail—but that’s it. If he or she hasn’t responded to your second inquiry, move on and seek another contact who can potentially help. Pestering your contacts may encourage them to avoid you in the future, or worse, to pass over you in the future if or when they know of a great opportunity.
Offer your help in return. It’s always good practice to let your contact know that you appreciate their help and offer to return the favor. If you aren’t aware of anything you can specifically help with, like providing them with leads for their job search, for example, then simply let them know you would be happy to help them with anything they may need in the future.
Make the meeting your treat. Of course, this means picking an inexpensive place like a café, but that kind of setting is ideal anyway. Meeting for coffee gives you both the flexibility to decide when to meet and how long your meeting should run, since your contact may be unable to make time for something like a sit-down lunch or dinner.
Do the legwork. Don’t expect your contacts to know what it is you’re looking for; rather, be prepared with questions, a solid idea of what you need, and anything else that can make your meeting go more smoothly and save time.
Thank them for their time. Both in your initial contact and after they have responded, it’s always great practice to show your gratitude. Whether you choose to send a thank-you note via email or a card in the mail, being grateful can only improve your contact’s view of you and may help them remember you for future opportunities.

Healthcare professionals interested in making a job change this year are in luck! As we reported in our 2016 Hiring Outlook, the current state of the job market has resulted in a major shift; where employers once held most of the advantage, job seekers now have the ability to be more selective with the offers they take and the organizations they choose to work for. This is especially true within the healthcare industry where the demand for health services greatly outweighs the supply of professionals who are qualified to provide that care.
“Due to these factors, we’re seeing many healthcare facilities competing with each other for talent,” explains Amanda Bleakney, Senior Managing Director of The Execu|Search Group’s Health Services division. “As a result, many of our top candidates are receiving multiple offers and have to make a difficult decision. To help our candidates determine which opportunity is the right fit for their needs, we regularly stress that there are a variety of different factors to consider that go beyond compensation.”
With the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reporting in their latest projection that healthcare is the fastest growing sector and that there will be 5.1 million jobs to fill by 2024, multiple job offers are going to become a reality for an increasing number of healthcare professionals. Make the right decision by considering:
Future opportunities for growth: As a professional working in the ever-evolving healthcare industry, it’s important to determine which opportunity offers the most growth potential. “Whether you specialize in Health IT or Acute Care, one of your top priorities should be gaining new skills and experience,” advises Amanda. “Focus on the big picture and think about which position will enhance your skillset and marketability for future opportunities. You never want to run the risk of becoming complacent in a sector that is constantly changing.” Rather than focusing on compensation, look out for the offer that gives you more opportunities to build your skills, gain new responsibilities, and advance within the organization. For example, your title, number of direct reports, and other managerial responsibilities can make all the difference when you are ready to look for a job later down the line.
The organization’s culture: If you are looking to thrive in your next role, it’s important to ensure the organization’s culture and environment are the right fit for you. “Company culture encompasses factors such as the organization’s values, how formal or laidback the environment is, and the way colleagues interact with each other, to name a few,” notes Amanda. “Your ability to be successful in a role can be directly tied to how happy you are with the organization. As a result, it’s important to determine your priorities and consider the qualities you desire in an employer when weighing multiple job offers.” To ensure your needs will be met and that you can work well with a particular employer, consider asking yourself the following questions:
Would I work well with the person that I will be reporting to?
Do I like the dynamics of the team I would be joining?
Is a flexible schedule important to me?
Do my values align with the organization’s overall goals?
How would I specifically make an impact?
The entire package: When juggling multiple offers, try to avoid judging each job by their individual salaries. “While compensation can definitely be important, you shouldn’t default to it as the sole deciding factor,” advises Amanda. “Rather than focusing just on the number of each offer, consider the entire package. For instance, benefits, bonuses, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, and vacation policy are all factors that can make up for a lower salary.”

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The Execu|Search Group is a leading recruitment, temporary staffing, and workforce management solutions firm with offices throughout the U.S. Whether you're a professional interested in making your next move, or an employer looking to improve your hiring strategy, we're here to help!